Frannie Doyle is having a really bad day. It starts with getting laid off from the design job at Spayce she’s had for the past four years. Things get worse when on her way home, a box full of office mementos in her arms, her billowy silk dress gets caught in the closing subway doors. Then things go beyond horrible when her dress tears straight down the back, revealing her backside to all of Manhattan. That is until the tall and hotly handsome stranger standing next to her offers her his expensive suit jacket to cover up and salvage some of her dignity.

The awkward but kind man takes his leave once off the train and disappears into the mass of commuters. But the encounter is not their last. Someone films their subway exchange and posts it on social media along with a surmised story of what had just happened, titling the whole thing “Subway QTs.” The pictures and story go viral, and the next thing Frannie knows is she’s meeting her “knight in shining armor” on a local morning television show. At least now she can return his suit jacket.

Frannie’s rescuer turns out to be Hayes Montgomery III, a New York City financial guru specializing in environmentally sustainable investments. He’s good with numbers and a total disaster verbally with the ladies. He’s completely tongue-tied when he comes face-to-face with Frannie and comes off like a jerk when he’s a shy, quiet, and kind introvert who’s totally smitten with her.

But when the designer Hayes has contracted to create his firm’s new office space backs out at the last minute with Architectural Digest slated to feature their office opening in their next issue, Hayes reaches out to Frannie to take him on as a client. Frannie, still looking for the first client for her brand-new private design business, jumps at the opportunity. But will this third time be the charm for the “Subway QTs” couple?

IN A NEW YORK MINUTE is bright and light, a clever and oh-so contemporary romance, and I was completely charmed by the delightful main characters and their circles of friends and family. Not only is the story about finding love but about second chances and family - both those you’re born into and those you make later and believing in oneself.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was the text messages between Frannie and her friends, Cleo and Lola, true-to-life and sometimes so darn funny I laughed aloud. But I could perfectly relate to how Frannie and Hayes overthought or agonized over composing a text message or email to each other and then going through the same process when interpreting replies to those messages.

The New York City setting is vibrant and alive on the page. I could feel the excitement of the city that never sleeps, and I loved the literary and film references that popped up in some of the dialogue. The characters and the setting were a perfect match for each other.

Having already mentioned that I laughed while reading this fun story, I should also say that some warm and wonderful moments brought me to tears; they were satisfying tears, though! The book just had me experiencing good solid emotions. I recommend IN A NEW YORK MINUTE to readers who enjoy good, solid romantic comedies, especially those set in New York City.